Protagonist

Susie Salmon, is a 14-year-old girl ,who is described as having a lot of "spunk"(Alice Sebold pg.7) by her father. The young, energetic photographer that was alwasy hungry for knowledge was raped and murdered on December 6,1973. As a fresh new spirit in heaven, Susie gives us a deep understaning of each family member in her family an how they are dealing with her death. Susie does not want to be dead ,but she has to learn to deal with the fact that she is actually gone and has to say good-bye to the people she loves.

Antagonists

Mr.Harvey, a serial killer who has very serious emotional problems. He is a danger to any young girl or woman whom he seeks to "free from her horrible life." However there was also another antagonist that lies deeper: grief. When the family found out about Susie they have been struggling to find peace within themselves an finally realize that Susie is gone an live on with their lives. In fact, they are at war with themselves and each other as they try to come to terms with the tragedy that has cursed their family.

Point Of View

The point of view is first person. Susie relates everything that happens to every character, including their thoughts as well as their deeds.

Exposition

In the beginning of the story, Susie explained how she was raped and murdered and also the struggles with some obstacles she faces and aslo her family's pain. For example, when her dad finds out that she was murdered , he is shocked just like the rest of the family but he admidiately starts his own investigation to fin Susie's murder.Susie meets Holly and they were living the lives of every teenage girl but didnt like one minute of it because they missed their love ones.

Rising Action

~Susie takes the shortcut through the cornfield on her way home. Mr.Harvey approaches her and convinces her to go inside his secret hiding place underground, where he rapes and murders her.~She enters heave and meets Holly,her roommate.~Detective Len Fernerman reports that the neighbors dog found Susie's elbow.~Susie's spirit touches Ruth Connors,a girl sahe doesn't really now at her school.~Mr. Harvey took Susie’s body to his house in a sack, while this was happening Susie's mother and father starts trying to find out their own answers.~Mr.Harvey puts the remainder of Susies boy into a orange sacck and stuffs it into a metal safe and dumps it into the town's sinkhole.~Susie's father suspects that Mr.Harvey is the killler.~ One night, Mr.Salmon follows a light to the cornfield, thinking it is Harvey. He brings a bat with him, intending to kill him.Clarissa, Susie’s best friend, is in the field waiting for her boyfriend. Mr.Salmon attacks Clarissa, thinking she is Harvey.Brian, Clarissa’s boyfriend, knocks Mr.Salmon out, saving Clarissa.~Lindsey breaks into Harvey’s house, looking for the evidence needed for the police to make an arrest. Harvey enters the house as Lindsey finds a drawing of the dug-out built by Harvey.She rips the drawing from the book and runs away as Mr.Harvey chases her.~Susie meets,Flora, another victim of Mr.Harvey.~Mr.Salmon suffers from a heart attack.~Ruth and Ray go to the sink hole .

Climax

The Climax is when Susie enters the body of Ruth and makes love to Ray. "We made love in the shower and in the bedroom and under the lights and fake glow-in-the-darkstars..." (Alice Sebold pg.308)

Falling Action

~Mr and Mrs Salmon resolve their marriage~Lindsey,the sister of Susie ,is married to Samuel and has a baby girl.~Ray becomes a docter~Ruth, is still doing what she loves, helping the dead with her gift,the ability to see the dead.~An Susie finally accepts the fact that she has to leave Earth.."..I wish you all a long an happy life." (Alice Sebold, pf.328)

Resolution

Every family member has accepted his or her way of grieving for Susie and cut the cord that binds him or her to Susie. They eventually accept Susie's death an move on with their lives.So does Susie even though she is in Heaven.... Mr.Harvey does die from sliiping on a an ice cicle and a week later the police fin his body in a dark ravin."...left me in her memories,where I was meant to be." (Alice Sebold, pg.327)

Conflict

The Conflict is Character vs. Character and also Character vs.self, because Susie tried with all her might to escape from Mr.Harvey but she just coulnt budge.... "I fought hard. I fought as hard as I could not to let Mr.Harvey hurt me, but my har-as-I-could was not har enough ,not even close...." (Alice Sebold,pg.12) The family and Susie with through the stages of grief.One day they could be mad at the world, the next accepting the fact that they have to let their "spunky" little girl go.